But the giant sporting structure has become a white elephant. Deserted by serious tennis players and scouts, the structure is now home only to under-privileged kids with nowhere else to go in their pursuit of big dreams in the sport.
A damaged fence, porous nets and a dilapidated court greet you from a distance. A few children run around, wielding old rackets – some improvised and others without strings at all, dreaming about the Davis Cup, but destined for disappointment.
“This place is supposed to not only keep children off the streets, but also to produce future international stars,” said Mthenjwa Ndlovu, a tennis coach for the past 25 years.
“I was here when the structure was officially opened in 1986 and we were promised that it would be maintained by the city council. That is not happening anymore and the dilapidation has seen more and more children lose interest in the sport.”
Having at one time coached more than 20 children at the same court, Ndlovu now has less than half the figure. He is likely to have none left within the next few years, if the neglect continues.
“Someone is not doing their job, but we cannot go after city officials reminding them that they are paid to do their work.”
For years, the three coaches training children here have been servicing the structure from their own coffers. “We are tired of using our money where council is supposed to finance,” said Ndlovu.
Kindness Moyo, a tennis player who doubles as a coach, lambasted the Bulawayo City Council for its failure to maintain the court.
“The community must just forget about council and do something to resuscitate the court. For the future of the kids, it is time we joined hands and donated money to rebuild this noble structure,” he said.
He paid tribute to the local MDC councillor, Nduna Dladla, who recently donated a new net. “These youths are part of my ward and I will continue to fight for them to be kept busy in what shapes their future. We need them not to spend too much time on the streets, doing nothing because that will drive them into crime,” said Dladla.
“Tennis is my future, but I hate that we struggle for everything here. Our training facility is very old and we can’t even trace lines to follow the rules,” said 15-year-old player, Chriswell Sibanda.
Efforts to get response on the issue from City Councillor Public Relations Officer Nesisa Mpofu were fruitless, as her phone went unanswered.
Post published in: Sport